Green tea blocked salt uptake in the intestine during a high salt diet leading to lowered blood pressure. Also theanine, a protein from green tea, lowered blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats but not in normal ones. (Kreydiyyeh 1994)

Whole green tea prevented constriction of arteries that causes high blood pressure. EGCG, the strongest antioxidant in green tea, when used alone had no effect on arterial walls. (Lim 2003)

A three week study with genetically hypertensive rats used the human equivalent of 1 quart of tea daily and attributed prevention of high blood pressure to antioxidants in the tea. (Negishi 2004)

A 12 week study with rats fed a high sugar diet found that green tea gave significant protection from the development of both high blood pressure and insulin resistance. (Wu, 2004)

But, one long-term animal study did not show that daily green tea lowered blood pressure in genetically hypertensive animals, but did show strong prevention of strokes and significantly increased their life span. (Uchida, 1995)

Short-term human studies were inconclusive:

Researchers reported on an 87 day human weight loss study, but could only attribute lowered blood pressure to modest weight loss, not to green tea. (Diepvens, 2006)

A two month study of diabetics showed no significant differences between the green tea and water groups. (Fukino, 2005)

A 7 day study of humans found an insignificant increase in blood pressure after drinking green or black tea that disappeared when they were standing up. (Hodgson, 1999)

Learn more about your health with a free subscription to the Green Tea Health Newsletter:

Enter Your E-mail Address

Enter Your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Green Tea Health News .

Friends And Family

Are you a member of a social networking site like Facebook, Google +, or the popular Twitter? If you like my website, share it with your friends and family! I appreciate it also, and thank you in advance.